To let landlord start to evict my "friend"

[listsandbudgets]

I agreed to be my "friend's" rent guarantor 2 years ago. I knew it was a risk but stupidly trusted him. He was getting full housing benefit so I didn't think he'd have a problem covering payments.

Then 3 months ago got a letter from landlord asking for over £1500 from me (3 months rent). Nasty shock but I took the risk so got to deal with it. Landlord has been trying to sort it out with him for 6 months before contacting me but heard nothing. Landlord has been very good and negotiated a deal with me which basically means I'll pay the money over a period of time. He's also agreed that any further arrears incurred by my friend will mean he will start eviction proceedings rather than chasing me for it. As friend is single dad to 3 boys under 10 he says he's been much more patient than he normally is with non paying tenants.

So I'm paying my "friend's" arrears and he won't talk to me. He's not answering his landline or mobile (both have caller display), has blocked me on facebook and even ignored a registered letter. L

Landlord has suggested as he's not communicating with us at all that he will start eviction proceedings in the hope of making him talk. He says the first step is just a letter wanring him he's about to take legal action unless he's contacted within 7 days. AIBU to encourage him to do so in the hope it shocks "friend" into facing up to what's happening?

Absolutely let him do it. You can't carry on paying the tenant's rent for ever. The family won't be left homeless.

No, you are definitely not being unreasonable. It's a shame that your friend isn't managing for whatever reason, but if he won't engage with you or the landlord, there's not much else you can do.

Well the landlord hasn't got much choice, has he? He can hardly let his property for free.

God yes, let him get on with it.

Even giving your 'friend' the benefit of the doubt (buried in debt, hiding from it due to being scared - have been there, e.g. throwing all post away before reading it), landing you in it and blocking you is shit behaviour.

Absolutely. YANBU.

Why would you even for a second consider NOT doing it!? He's treating you like a mug. It must really hurt to be used so shamefully by a friend.

YANBU! I would be so so angry!

Nothing else you can do, unless you're wealthy enough to manage two sets of housing costs every month. It doesn't sound as if you are.

Themoa - the ongoing rent is being paid its the arrears that are the problem. Landlord is concerned because they started accumlating in the run up to Christmas (october onwards) and he thinks it may happen again this year.

?anbu! You cant keep paying their rent.

I think that your "friend" deserves eviction proceedings. He has failed to talk to anyone about failure to meet the rent. It is not your problem three young boys being made homeless. If you are worried then it may well be worth contacting social services to make sure that the boys have a roof over their head.

YANBU

Not unreasonable at all. He's not much of a friend to you really is he and proviong himself to be a liability for the landlord

Hang on, doesn't housing benefit get paid straight to the landlord?

YANBU.

Your paying £1500 of arrears that are not yours ! And you have to ask if you are being unreasonable ????
Fair enough you stood guarantor , and unfortunately you now have to pay up, but your 'friend' is now completely ignoring/ hiding from you and the landlord .
The fact he has 3 boys is unfortunate but not your problem. When faced with eviction I suspect he will try to guilt trip you.
Do what you have to do to get yourself out of this position.
Too late for you, but a sober reminder to everyone else to think long and hard before you sign as guarantor for anyone.

Onlylovers - I think in most cases it doesn't anymore. It goes to the claiment who has to then pay.

YANBU.

I would be asking LL about where the payments were coming from before making a decision, this could be a benefits sanction issue and your friend is struggling.

Hang on, doesn't housing benefit get paid straight to the landlord?

No, this was changed a couple of years or so ago, which is causing major problems. The thinking is that people on benefits should be in charge of their own money (to encourage responsibility or something), and so receive the housing benefit themselves and would then pay their LLs. Needless to say this is resulted in many, many LLs not being paid and is now a major factor (source: National Landlords Association survey) in LLs no longer accepting tenants receiving housing benefit.

Doesn't excuse him from ignoring her calls/texts and blocking her on Facebook though allwayslookingforanswers Is she supposed to pay forever?

thecat, thanks for that and apologies for being uninformed about it.

YANBU then, OP.

HB doesnt always cover the total cost of the rent either. I have to pay around £100 of my rent. So its easier to give it to LL in one payment.

can you sue this 'friend' for the money you are paying on his behalf?

the LL needs to evict this 'friend' of yours anyway, but IIRC he can only do that once the arrears are 3 months in full.

Hissy eviction process in a nutshell: rent must be two months in arrears. Then a two week notice to quit is issued. After this, if the tenant hasn't left, you must apply to court. There is generally a 6 to 8 week wait for a court date. Then, providing the court awards possession, you need to apply for a baliff, for which there is another 6-8 week wait. So the average time it takes to evict someone for non-payment is six months.